Padma Shri Awardee, 90, Evicted From Govt Accommodation. Deadline for 8 More Artistes

“These eight artistes assured us that they are in the process of vacating their bungalows and sought some more days,” PTI quoted the official as saying.

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New Delhi: The Centre has asked eight eminent artistes, who were allotted the government accommodations years ago but which were cancelled in 2014, to vacate the facilities by May 2.

Out of 28 artistes, there are still around eight who have not moved out of their government accommodations despite multiple notices, said a senior official of the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry.

“These eight artistes assured us that they are in the process of vacating their bungalows and sought some more days,” PTI quoted the official as saying.

“They have given us an undertaking in written that they would vacate the facilities by May 2 and we have given them time till then,” the official added earlier on Wednesday.

This comes a day after eviction proceedings were conducted against 90-year-old Padma Shri awardee and Odissi dancer Guru Mayadhar Raut.

The official, while commenting on the Odissi dancer’s eviction, said that a team had been sent to his government bungalow for initiating eviction proceedings.

Up to 40 artistes, as per the government’s policy, can be allotted accommodation under a special quota in the General Pool Residential Accommodation on the recommendation of the culture ministry if they earned under Rs 20,000 per month.

The Delhi High Court had earlier this month refused to grant more time to Indian classical artiste Rita Ganguly, who had challenged a single judge's decision directing her and others to vacate the government allotted residences in the national capital by the end of April.

Stating that it would not grant even one more day, a bench of Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Navin Chawla had said that the single judge was more than benevolent while granting her two months’ time.

The Central government had earlier given a deadline of December 31, 2020, to vacate the premises but the notice was stayed by the High Court after the petitions were filed.

The single-judge had delivered its verdict on the pleas by Mohiniyattam dancer Bharati Shivaji, Kuchipudi dancer Guru V Jayarama Rao, Mayadhar Raut, Dhrupad singer Ustad F Wasifuddin Dagar, Bharatanatyam dancer Rani Shinghal, Kathak expert Geetanjali Lal, and other artistes including KR Subanna, Kamal Sabri, Devraj Dakoji, Kamalini, artist Jatin Das, Pt Bhajan Sopori and Ganguly.

The Directorate of Estates had as part of its drive against “illegal occupants” evicted Jamui Lok Sabha MP Chirag Paswan from the 12, Janpath bungalow, which had been allotted to his late father Ram Vilas Paswan.

In tune with the same, several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs, who had been allotted bungalows when they were ministers, had to also vacate the government facilities.